LG's objection on vaccum cleaners baseless: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday dubbed as "baseless" the objection raised by Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung's Office to the purchase of vacuum cleaners to clean the national capital's roads.

The Chief Minister said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wanted to destroy Delhi through the Lt. Governor.

The Delhi government had earlier passed a proposal to buy vacuum cleaners in a bid to curb pollution here.

However, Jung's office raised objections on the ground that the work involves the three Municipal Corporations of Delhi, which are run by the BJP, and the Kejriwal government must consult these local bodies first.

"We are not trying to take over the MCD responsibilities; we are just trying to aid them. There is no basis for these objections. The intention (of Jung) is to just make the people of Delhi suffer," Kejriwal said.

"I have directed (Deputy Chief Minister) Manish Sisodia to meet Lt Governor and clear the misunderstanding. So next week, Sisodia will go to his office and beg him to spare Delhi," he added.

Kejriwal said Jung also raised objections against Delhi cabinet's decision to give financial assistance worth Rs 1 crore to the family of retired Subedar Ram Kishan Grewal, who had committed suicide on November 1 over the issue of One Rank One Pension.

"If the government wants to give financial assistance to a deceased ex-serviceman's family, why do the Lt Governor and the BJP have any trouble?

"They don't have any problem when it comes to asking for votes in the name of surgical strike. But when it comes to giving assistance to our soldiers, they back out," Kejriwal said.

He added the cabinet was well within its rights to take the decision and there was no need for Jung's approval.

--IANS

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